Clear span rack for handling of tobacco on sticks



1965 w. J. WALDEN, SR 3,212,645

CLEAR SPAN RACK FOR HANDLING OF TOBACCO ON STICKS Filed Nov. 26, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM JULIAN WALDEN ,SR.

BY HIE s'fimwwk ATTORNEY 1965 w. J. WALDEN, SR 3,

CLEAR SPAN RACK FOR HANDLING OF TOBACCO ON STICKS Filed Nov. 26, 1963' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W\LL\AM JUUAN WALDEN SR.

BY M) ATTORNEY w. J. WALDEN, SR 3,212,645

CLEAR SPAN RACK FOR HANDLING OF TOBACCO ON STICKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W mm a: a Z

' 31 \\i Z i-y H 7/594 IN/C:

Oct. 19, 1965 Filed Nov. 26, 1965 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,212,645 CLEAR SPAN RACK FOR HANDLING OF TOBACCO 0N STICKS William Julian Walden, Sr., Midway, Ky. Filed Nov. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 325,975 8 Claims. '(Cl. 21160) This invention relates to an improved rack structure for use in the handling of tobacco on sticks and more particularly to a reinforced, large-capacity, rack having clear spans between its rails.

Various factors, including government production con trol by acreage, have had the efiect of inducing growers to produce tobacco plants of increased size and weight, and when five or more of such plants are impaled on a single stick, the worker is confronted with a substantial problem in handling the same. Moreover, in moving the tobacco from the field to the curing site it is of economic advantage to employ a rack which requires the services of only a single worker and which permits a handling procedure in which damage to the tobacco is reduced to a minimum. Although many forms of racks have been proposed for the handling of tobacco on sticks, so far as I am aware, all of them have one or more significant disadvantages and which it is a purpose of the present invention to overcome.

An object of the invention is to provide a vehicular mounted tobacco rack having rails on which two rows of loaded tobacco sticks may be conveniently hung by a worker standing on the ground and with the loaded sticks secured against displacement during travel of the vehicle. Another object is to provide a vehicular mounted tobacco rack adapted for handling of large size tobacco and affording a relatively low center of gravity.

Another object is to provide a tobacco rack which is adaptable for use with a vehicle and for stacked arrangement with similar racks when detached from the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a clear span tobacco rack suitable for loading of tobacco on sticks by a worker standing on the ground and swinging the sticks into position on the rack without damage to the tobacco.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent as the description proceeds and when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

\ FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rack mounted on a vehicle and indicating the technique of loading from the center of the clear spans.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an empty rack detached from the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing the angle at which the sticks rest upon the rails.

FIG. 4 is an end view of two loaded racks in stacked position and indicating the ventilating space available for curing purposes.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the rack as mounted on a vehicle and indicating the work spaces available to the worker while reaching into the clear spans of the overhead rails.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and showing one form of fastening for detachably joining the rack to the vehicle, and

FIG. 7 is a sectional View to an enlarged scale taken on line 77 of FIG. 5 and showing an alternate form of fastening for detachably joining the rack to the vehicle.

Referring first to FIGS. 2 and 3, a presently preferred form of rack embodying the invention comprises a pair of parallel longitudinal lower metal beams 10 and 11 of channel shape and suitably fastened as by welding or bolting to transverse first and second column supporting members 12 and 13 adjacent the front and rear ends of 3,212,645 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 those beams. These members also are of channel shaped metal and the ends of the same extend outboard from the beams and define the location of the side planes of the rack and which planes lie outboard of the Wheels of the vehicle on which the rack is to be mounted, as best seen in FIG. 5. It is a feature of the invention that the rack may be constructed for large capacity and be suitably reinforced for use in either transporting or curing purposes. When the present commercial form of twentyfour feet rail span is employed, an intermediate columnsupporting member 14 is used to secure added reinforcement. In view of the recommended loading technique, later to be described, the presence of this intermediate member does not detract from the clear span working spaces available to the worker.

Extending upwardly from the extreme ends of the transverse members and securely fixed thereto are arrays of vertical side columns 15, 16, 17 and 18, 19, 20, the upper ends of which are within reach of a worker standing on the ground. An array of intermediate vertical columns 21, 22, and 23 also are affixed at their lower ends to the transverse column-supporting members near the midpoints thereof and the upper ends of these intermediate columns terminate at a lower elevation than the upper ends of the side columns. An elongated horizontal first side rail 25, which preferably is of angle iron, is aifixed to the columns 15, 16 and 17 at the upper ends thereof and the ends of this rail extend beyond the respective end columns 15 and 17, the extension being longer at the rear of the rack than at the front, as best seen in FIG. 1. Likewise, a second side rail 26 is similarly afiixed to the columns 18, 19, and 20.

As a feature of the invention, an intermediate third rail 27, spaced substantially equidistant from the side rails, is afiixed to the upper ends of the intermediate columns 21, 22, and 23, and has shelf portions 28 and 29 confronting the resspective side rails and with a vertically extending web portion 30 between and above the shelf portions. The shelf portions lie well below the upper edges of the side rails, for example, about five inches lower, thus permitting gravity to exert a component of force urging the loaded tobacco stick to press with its one end against the web portion 30 and to lock itself against movement transversely of the rack. As best shown in FIG. 1, first and second transverse reinforcing elements 31 and 32 are rigidly affixed to the front and rear ends respectively of each of the rails and the presence of these reinforcing elements makes possible a locking of the load of tobacco against movement axially of the rack, as will later appear.

Braces 33, 34 and 35 and somewhat longer braces 36, 37 and 38 connect the end columns with the rails at the respective front and rear ends of the rack. These braces lie in vertical planes and do not interpose any obstruction to loading or unloading of tobacco. Since the rack will normally be employed with a vehicular chassis adapted to be drawn by a tractor by means of the tongue 39 at the front of the chassis, and since the tractor will require maneuver room without brushing against tobacco hanging from the forwardmost stick on the rack, the over hanging portion 40 of the rails forwardly of the front row of columns is normally about a foot shorter than the overhanging portion 41 of those rails rearwardly of the rear row of columns, as indicated in FIG. 5.

The rack as thus far described is adapted for use with a conventional vehicular chassis having the usual groundengaging and fifth wheels and with a central spine member 42 separating the axle housings 43 and 44. Supported above the axles are the usual front and rear transverse bolsters 45 and 46 having upstanding end portions 48 cradling the longitudinal lower beams of the rack. Varions means for detachably fastening the rack to the chassis may be employed as, for example a series of bolts 47 as seen in FIG. 6, which pass through apertures in the beams 10 and 11 and in the respective upstanding end portions 48 of the bolsters, these bolts being detachably secured by nuts 49. An alternate arrangement is seen in FIG. 7 wherein the forward portions of the lower beams are provided with stops 50 affixed thereto on the outer sides and which abut against the rearward edge of the upturned end 48 of bolster 45 to prevent forward shifting of the rack. As will be understood, the rearward portions of these lower beams also carry similar stops which abut against the forward edge of the upturned ends 48 of the other bolster 46 to prevent rearward shifting of the rack. Normally, the entire fastening will involve for consistency in manufacturing practices either the use of the bolted construction of FIG. 6, or the use of abutting stops, the two versions being referred to the single FIG. herein solely to avoid repetition of disclosure.

1 Since the rack construction lends itself to curing purposes, the lower ends of each of the side columns are extended a distance below the transverse column-supporting members which will be greater than the distance the butt ends of the tobacco stalks will project above the sticks, as best seen in FIG. 4. Moreover, the lower ends of the side columns are laterally offset a distance sufficient to clear the upwardly extending web of the rails 25 and 26. When, therefore, the rack is removed from the vehicle and rests upon a flat surface, an identical rack may be lifted thereabove with the lower ends of its side columns resting in snug engagement upon the side rails 25 and 26 of the rack immediately below. In such a stacking, an appreciable generally V-shaped air space 50 is present below the upper rack and serves to aid in air circulation during the curing process. Moreover, the tips of the tobacco on the upper rack will not be damaged by contact with the butt ends of the tobacco on the lower rack.

Having thus described a structural arrangement of the rack, reference now is made to FIGS. 1 and 5 for a description of the improved loading procedure made possible with the clear span rack. With the vehicular mounted rack drawn to position in the field alongside rows of loaded tobacco sticks lying on the ground, the single operator then raises a loaded tobacco stick 51 and while standing on the ground in the unobstructed space 52 (FIG. 5) places one end of the stick upon shelf 29 of the center rail near the mid-length of the center rail and with a swinging motion brings the other end of the stick to rest upon the upper edge of the side rail 26. Several other sticks are similarly loaded in the same manner,

each stick being so spaced along the center rail as to bring the tobacco hanging from adjacent sticks into snug contact with the other tobacco. As will now be apparent, the depending stalks of tobacco, due to the center rail being lower than the side rails, will tend to hang closer to the center line of the rack and to effect a lowering of the center of gravity of the loaded rack.

The operator next moves into the unobstructed space 53 and while facing forwardly of the rack similarly loads more sticks upon the rack and in contact with the previously loaded tobacco. In turn, he then moves to unobstructed spaces 54 and 55 and carries out a similar loading procedure, after which he moves the vehicle forwardly to another loading station. When the rails above working space 52 are loaded, the operator then steps into the space 56 forwardly of the transverse member 12 and continues the loading until the forwardmost stick on that side of the rack is loaded. The loading of that forwardmost stick, which is .done with a somewhat more laboribus wedging action, will later prevent forward shifting of the load and helps to lock the load against dislodgment since the stalks of tobacco on such forwardmost stick bear against the transverse reinforcing element 31.

In similar manner when the rails above space 53 are loaded he moves into space 57 at the rear of the rack and locks the rearmost stick on that side of the rack in place, the stalks of which rearmost stick are wedged against the transverse element 32. Thereafter, by working in spaces 58 and 59 the rack is fully loaded by following a similar procedure and the vehicle may then be moved safely to the curing site.

In contrast to conventional racks mounted upon the beds of wagons or trucks and requiring two workers, the present rack has a much lower center of gravity and requires less exertion on the part of the worker in loading the same. The open nature of the rack also permits an efficient spraying of the tobacco with water should such a procedure be desired, and as the sticks are loaded in place with the described swinging motion the several leaves on each stalk are loosened from any matted condition which they may have adopted from lying previously on the ground.

While in accordance with the patent statutes there has been described what at present is considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and it is intended, in the appended claims, to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in the transporting of tobacco on sticks, a reinforced clear span rack comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal lower beams spaced from each other and having means for fastening the rack to a vehicle, first and second column-supporting members afiixed transversely to said beams adjacent the respective front and rear ends of said beams, first side columns attached to one of the corresponding ends of each of said members, second side columns attached to the corresponding other ends of said members, an array of intermediate columns attached to said members adjacent the mid-points of said members, the upper end of each of said columns terminating above the ground at locations Within the reach of a worker standing on the ground adjacent either of said beams and acting to raise loaded tobacco sticks into position on said rack without interference from the rack or vehicle structure, first and second longitudinal rails joining the respective upper ends of each of said first and second side columns, an intermediate third rail joining the upper ends of each column in said intermediate array and spaced substantially equidistant from each of said first and second rails thereby to form a pair of parallel clear span spaces for occupancy by tobacco retained on sticks, said third rail being located at a lower elevation than said first and second rails and having shelf portions confronting each of said first and second rails and a vertically extending portion above and between said shelf portions and against which the end of a tobacco stick extend-ing be-v tween said third rail and either of said first and second rails may abut, and first and second transverse reinforcing elements afiixed respectively to the front and rear ends of each of said rails.

2. A rack as defined in claim 1 wherein said third rail is disposed adjacent the longitudinal center line of said rack and said first and second rails are disposed farther from said center line than are the corresponding beams.

3. For use in the transporting and curing of tobacco on sticks, a reinforced clear span rack comprising a pair of longitudinal lower beams spaced from each other and having means for detachably fastening the rack to a vehicle, first and second column-supporting members affixed transversely to said beams adjacent the respective front and rear ends of said laeams, first side columns attached to one of the corresponding ends of each of said members, second side columns attached to the corresponding other ends of said member, each of said first and second side columns having a lower end projecting below said beam and f rming a foot upon which said rack may rest when detached from said vehicle, an array of intermediate columns attached to said members adjacent the mid-points of said members, the upper end of each of said first, sec- 0nd and intermediate columns terminating above the ground at locations within reach of a worker standing on the ground adjacent either of said beams and acting to raise loaded tobacco sticks into position on said rack without interference from the rack or vehicle structure, first and second longitudinal rails joining the respective upper ends of each of said first and second side columns, an intermediate third rail joining the upper ends of each column in said intermediate array and spaced substantially equidistant from each of said first and second rails thereby to form a pair of parallel open span spaces for occupancy by tobacco retained on sticks, said third rail being located at a lower elevation than said first and second rails and having shelf portions confronting each of said first and second rails and a vertically extending portion above and between said shelf portions and against which the end of a tobacco stick extending between said third rail and either of said first and second rails may abut, and first and second transverse reinforcing elements aifixed respectively to the front and rear ends of each of said rails.

4. A rack as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said first and second rails includes a transverse cross-sectional configuration adapted to provide a secure seat for the feet of a similar rack when said similar rack is positioned above and in contact said first-mentioned rack.

5. A rack as defined in claim 3 wherein the lower ends of each of said side columns projects a greater distance below said beams than the distance the butt ends of tobacco disposed upon sticks resting on said rails will project upwardly from said sticks.

6. For use in the transporting of tobacco on sticks, a reinforced large-capactity clear span rack comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal lower beams spaced from each other and having means for fastening the rack to a vehicle, first and second column-supporting members atfixed transversely to said beams adjacent the respective front and rear ends of said beams, first side columns attached to one of the corresponding ends of each of said members, second side columns attached to the corresponding other ends of said members, an array of intermediate columns attached to said members adjacent the mid-points of said members, the upper end of each of said columns terminating above the ground at locations within the reach of a worker standing on the ground adjacent either of said beams and acting to raise loaded tobacco sticks into position on said rack without interference from the rack or vehicle structure, first and sec ond longitudinal rails joining the respective upper ends of each of said first and second side columns, an intermediate third rail joining the upper ends of each column in said intermediate array and spaced substantially equidistant from each of said first and second rails, each of said rails being longer than said beams and having their front ends located forwardly of said first member and their rear ends located rearwardly of said second member thereby to form a pair of parallel clear span spaces accessible to a worker standing forwardly of said first member, between said first and second members, and rearwardly of said second member, said third rail being located :at a lower elevation than said first and second rails and having shelf portions confronting each of said first and second rails and a vertically extending portion above and between said shelf portions and against which the end of a tobacco stick extending between said third rail and either of said first and second rails may abut, and first and second transverse reinforcing elements affixed respectively to the front and rear ends of each of said rails.

7. A rack as defined in claim 6 including reinforcing braces disposed in vertical planes and rigidly joining the respective ends of each of said rails to the respective nearest column of said rack.

8. A rack as defined in claim 7 wherein the braces joining the front ends of said rails to said nearest columns are longer than the braces joining the rear ends of said rails to said nearest columns.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 298,252 5/84 Sternberg 2965 1,601,990 10/26 Wann 2963 1,912,847 6/33 Klepel 22097 2,721,662 10/55 Miller 21171 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,253,648 1961 France.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner. 

1. FOR USE IN THE TRANSPORTING OF TOBACCO ON STICKS, A REINFORCED CLEAR SPAN RACK COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL LONGITUDINAL LOWER BEAMS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND HAVING MEANS FOR FASTENING THE RACK TO A VEHICLE, FIRST AND SECOND COLUMN-SUPPORTING MEMBERS AFFIXED TRANSVERSELY TO SAID BEAMS ADJACENT THE RESPECTIVE FRONT AND REAR ENDS OF SAID BEAMS, FIRST SIDE COLUMNS ATTACHED TO ONE OF THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF EACH OF SAID MEMBERS, SECOND SIDE COLUMNS ATTACED TO THE CORRESPONDING OTHER ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS, AN ARRAY OF INTERMEDIATE COLUMNS ATTACED TO SAID MEMBERS ADJACENT THE MID-POINTS OF SAID MEMBERS, THE UPPER END OF EACH OF SAID COLUMNS TERMINATING ABOVE THE GROUND AT LOCATIONS WITHIN THE REACH OF A WORKER STANDING ON THE GROUND ADJACENT EITHER OF SAID BEAMS AND ACTING TO RAISE LOADED TOBACCO STICKS INTO POSITION ON SAID RACK WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE RACK OR VEHICLE STRUCTURE, FIRST AND SECOND LONGITUDINAL RAILS JOINING THE RESPECTIVE UPPER ENDS OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE COLUMNS, AN INTERMEDIATE THIRD RAIL JOINING THE UPPER ENDS OF EACH COLUMN IN SAID INTERMEDIATE ARRAY AND SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIDISTANT FROM EAC OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND RAILS THEREBY TO FORM A PAIR OF PARALLEL CLEAR SPAN SPACES FOR OCCUPANCY BY TOBACCO RETAINED ON STICKS, SAID THIRD RAIL BEING LOCATED AT A LOWER EVALUATION THAN SAID FIRST AND SECOND RAILS AND HAVING SHELF PORTIONS CONFRONTING EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND RAILS AND A VERTICALLY EXTENDING PORTION ABOVE AND BETWEEN SAID SHELF PORTIONS AND AGAINST WHICHH THE END OF A TOBACCO STICK EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID THIRD RAIL AND EITHER OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND RAILS MAY ABUT, AND FIRST AND SECOND TRANSVERSE REINFORCING ELEMENTS AFFIXED RESPECTIVELY TO THE FRONT AND REAR ENDS OF EACHHH OF SAID RAILS. 